The Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH) in collaboration with SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG increases the conversion efficiency of screen-printed silicon solar cells from today's industry typical 17.0% to 18.5% to a record value of 20.1%, as confirmed by an independent measurement from the Fraunhofer ISE. A novel ICP-AlOx / SiNy double layer at the rear side of the solar cell enables the improvement without applying a "selective emitter". 20.1% is one of the highest efficiencies worldwide reported for industrial type silicon solar cells with screen-printed metallization (only Schott Solar and Q-Cells achieved higher efficiencies of 20.2%).

Two technological improvements enable the increased conversion efficiency. First, an ICP-AlOx/SiNy double layer passivates the rear surface of the solar cell. ICP stands for "Inductively Coupled Plasma", which is a novel deposition method for AlOx developed at ISFH in cooperation with SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG. SINGULUS is currently developing an integrated production solution for this passivation layer stack. The screen-printed aluminum on the cell's rear side locally contacts the silicon wafer through line shaped contact openings formed by laser ablation. The modified cell rear improves reflection and reduces the charge carrier recombination which increases both the current and voltage of the solar cell. Second, the cell front side is metallized using a "Print on Print" process, which results in a reduced contact finger width and hence less shadowing loss. This advanced screen printing process was optimized at ISFH in collaboration with DEK Solar, using their high accuracy Eclipse screen printing platform and precision screens. Beyond these innovations, the solar cell applies typical industrial processes, in particular a homogeneously phosphorus diffused emitter and a 156 x 156 mm2 large Czochralski (Cz) silicon wafer.

"This excellent result was achieved within the research project HighScreen funded by the German Federal Ministry of the Environment and also funded by our partners SolarWorld AG, Schott Solar AG, Solland Solar Cells GmbH, RENA GmbH und SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG", explains Dr. Thorsten Dullweber, head of the ISFH research group Solar Cell Production Processes. "Additionally, our collaboration with DEK Solar, Ferro Corporation and Heraeus GmbH accelerated the progress." Prof. Dr. Rolf Brendel, Director of the ISFH, adds: "These technological innovations show the high potential to further reduce the costs of photovoltaic electricity."

About 80% of today's industrially manufactured solar cells apply p-type silicon wafers in combination with screen printed metal contacts. Hence, efficiency improvements for this type of solar cell are highly relevant for the photovoltaic industry and represent an intensive field of research worldwide.